Easy open means for bottles and the like



Aug. 4, 1970 SIEMONSEN ET AL 3,522,899

EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Feb. 3,1969 N WW NU mm m m wa m l L w EE DR mA Y B 1 v a a v. 4 H. 5 0 4 o G FTHEIR ATTORNEYS g- 1970 F. A. SIEMONSEN ET AL 3,522,899

EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets$heet 2 Filed Feb. 3,1969 mvsmoas 0 K A. SIEMONSEN R L. GARRlQUES v w .4 WW I p.

THEIR ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1970 F. A. SIEMONSEN ET 3,522,899

EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 3.1969 FIG."

FIG. IO

FIG. l2

INVENTORS FREDERIK A. SIEMONSEN ALFRED L. GARRIQUES FIG. I4

THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,522,899 Patented Aug. 4,1970 3,522,899 EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Frederik A.Siemonsen, Bon Air, and Alfred L. Garriques,

Richmond, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., acorporation of Delaware Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.587,170, Oct. 17, 1966, now Patent No. 3,462,036. This application Feb.3, 1969, Ser. No. 796,002 The portion of the term of the patentsubsequent to Aug. 19, 1986, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. B65d 41/10,43/02 US. Cl. 215-46 24 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisdisclosure relates to an improved easy open crown type closure cap for abottle which is made as one unitary assembly or piece and includes apull ring fastened thereto which enables easy opening by tearing asection in the cap and removal of the entire cap as one piece.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 587,170, filed Oct. 17,1966.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many liquid products, such as beverages, forexample, are sold in bottles which utilize comparatively small diametercrown type closure caps. Although it has been previously proposed toprovide a tear section in a small diameter crown type closure cap toenable opening without requiring a separate opener, it still requires acomparatively large force to sever such a tear section and open theassociated bottle. In addition, many present caps of the charactermentioned are made in two or more separate pieces which are moredifficult to install in position to provide an effective seal on anassociated bottle and upon removing such present caps many undesirablesharp edges and loose parts are created.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved closure cap for a bottlewhich is easier to open than previously proposed caps. Further thisinvention provides an improved one piece easy Open cap which is alsoremoved in one piece.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent as the following description of the embodiments thereofpresented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show presentpreferred embodiments of this invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an improvedclosure cap of this invention fastened in position on an associatedbottle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the top portion of the neck ofthe bottle of FIG. 1 with its closure cap fastened in position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view looking normally downwardly toward theclosure cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating another embodiment ofthe improved closure cap of this invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 77 of FIG. 3 prior tobonding a sealing material against the inside surface of the closure capand particularly illustrating the depth of various score lines providedin such closure cap;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and on the line 88 of FIG.6 which particularly illustrates the comparatively deeper score linesprovided in the closure cap of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 and taken on the line 9-9of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 1 essentiallyillustrating a closure cap and associated bottle as presented in theabove-referenced copending patent application;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view looking normally toward the closure cap ofFIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrating the pull ring ofthe closure cap of FIG. 10 in its initially raised position;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 illustrating a portion of theclosure cap of FIG. 12 partially torn away; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the pull ring of FIG. 10 taken onthe line 14--14 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to FIGS.l-5 of the drawings wherein one exemplary embodiment of this inventionis illustrated and designated generally by the numeral 20 and comprisesa bottle 21 which utilizes an improved easy open crown type closure capdesignated generally by the numeral 22.

Bottle 21 of this example is shown as a conventional glass bottle whichhas a lower cylindrical portion 27 and a frustoconical upper end portion23 which terminates in a conventional neck 24 at its upper end. Neck 24has an annular bead 25 surrounding its terminal upper end and adispensing opening 26 is provided through the neck 24 which defines theopen end for bottle 21 enabling a liquid product such as a beverage, orthe like, to be dispensed therethrough. Bottle 21 may be made of anysuitable material such as glass, plastic, metal, or the like, and inthose applications where bottle 21 is made of glass it may be of thethrow-away type if desired.

The closure member or closure cap 22 has a top portion 30 which isadapted to be placed over the dispensing opening 26 and an integralskirt 31 depending from the peripheral edge 32 of the top portion 30 andskirt 31 is fastened around annular bead 25 of neck 24 in a known mannerto secure the closure cap 22 to the bottle 21.

The closure cap 22 has a roughly triangular tear section 33 providedtherein and defined by a substantially V-shaped score line 34 which hasa pair of diverging leg portions which diverge in one direction from apoint indicated at 35 adjacent the center of the top portion '30 of cap22. One of the leg portions designated by the numeral 36 extends frompoint 35 across top portion 30 and along the full height of skirt 31while the other leg portion 37 of the V-shaped score line 34 extendsfrom point 35 to a location indicated by the numeral at 40 adjacent theupper edge of skirt 31.

Closure cap 22 has a second score line 41 provided in its top portion 30which extends from point 35 in an opposite direction from the directionof the outwardly extending legs 36 and 37. The score line 41 cooperateswith the V-shaped score line 34 to assure that the closure cap 22 isopened in a simple and substantially effortless manner and as will bedescribed in detail subsequently.

The closure cap 22 has a pull ring 43 fastened to the tear section 33which is confined within V-shaped score line 34 and as Will be seenparticularly in FIG. 3 the pull ring 43 is fastened to tear section 33adjacent point 35. Pull ring 43 has a finger-receiving opening 44 whichenables a user desiring to open bottle 21 to insert a finger withinopening 44 to tear out tear section 33 and thereby unfasten the closurecap 22 from bottle 21 in a simple and effortless manner.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the pull ring 43 of this exemplary embodimentof the invention is fastened to the closure cap 22 utilizing an integralrivet 45 comprising cap 22 and which extends through a cooperatingopening 46 provided in a fastening flange portion 50 of pull ring 43 andthe top portion of rivet 45 is riveted in position against the topsurface of fastening flange portion 50 adjoining opening 46.

The closure cap 22 may be removed from bottle 21 in a simple andsubstantially effortless manner by inserting an object such as afingernail beneath the pull ring 43, lifting ring 43, and then insertinga finger through the finger-receiving opening 44. The bottle 21 is thenfirmly held and an outward pull against ring 43 causes its end portion52 to be fulcrumed against top portion to provide an easier initialpopping or severing of the tear strip 33 adjacent point 35. This poppingserves to immediately provide a vent for the bottle 21 to relieve anypressure that may have built up within such bottle and assures a saferoperation in that it assures that the closure cap 22 will not fly off asmight otherwise be possible if the construction of the closure cap didnot provide such initial venting.

Upon continuing to pull the pull ring 43 outwardly an edge of tear strip33 which adjoins leg portion 36 of score line 34 is completely severedfrom the remaining portion of the closure cap 22 while simultaneouslythe edge of tear strip 33 adjoining leg 37 is also severed until pointor location 40 is reached. Once location 40 is reached the tear strip 33is lifted away from the plane of the top portion 30 of cap 22. Acontinued pull against pull ring 43 results in severing the closure cap22 along score line 41 which practically simultaneously therewithreleases the depending skirt 31 from beneath head 25 over a substantialare which is defined by the distance between the terminal end of legportion 36 and the terminal end of score line 41. This provides animmediate release of the closure cap 22 enabling it to be lifted awayfrom bottle 21 simply and easily.

It might appear from the above description that the opening of cap 22 isachieved in interrupted sequential steps; however, the uniqueconstruction of cap 22 enables it to be opened in one smooth pullingmotion. Also, the ring 43 may be pulled in any desired direction awayfrom the bottle 21 to provide easy removal of cap 22 as described above.

The closure cap is held together as a unitary assembly which may bethought of as one piece and is comprised of an integral metallicportion, pull ring 43, and a seal (to be later described) bonded withinsuch closure cap. Further, upon pulling the pull ring 43 outwardly inthe manner described above the severing that takes place along theV-shaped score line 34 and substantially rectilinear score line 41results in releasing the closure cap 22 from bottle 21 so that it isstill held together as one piece or unitary assembly whereby numerousseparate cutting edges and loose parts are eliminated by cap 22 to helpavoid the likelihood of injury to a person opening bottle 21.

It will also be appreciated that in many previously proposed small crowntype closures provided for a bottle the seal is generally provided insuch previous closures utilizing a separate inner sealing member whichis held against the neck of the bottle by an outer member and theseinner and outer members are not fastened together. In many of suchprevious closure caps upon pulling a pull tab which is provided inassociation with the outer member of the cap the opening action isachieved by tearing away a strip in the outer member thereby resultingin the outer member of such previously proposed cap being severed intoat least two pieces while the inner sealing member still must be liftedaway from the bottle. In addition, in such a previous closure cap oncethe outer member is removed, whether in one or more pieces, the innerseparate member is substantially free to be removed; however, if thereis a pressure buildup within the container it is entirely likely thatsuch pressure could expel the inner member outwardly with great forceand could cause injury to a person opening the bottle using such aprevious closure cap.

By contrast, the likelihood of an injury as described in connection withpreviously proposed closure caps is not possible with the improvedclosure cap 22 of this invention. With closure cap 22 there is initialventing provided upon initially lifting the pull ring 43 upwardly asaided by the unique fulcruming by end portion 52 of pull ring 43 againsttop portion 30. Once this initial venting has been achieved and pullring 43 is pulled outwardly the V-shaped score line 34 and score line 41cooperate in a manner as perviously described to enable easy removal ofthe closure cap 22 in a substantially easier manner than has beenpreviously possible and in one piece.

In the exemplary embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 1 theclosure cap 22 has its second score line 41 extending in a directionopposite the direction of the outwardly extending legs of V-shaped scoreline 34. In particular, the score line 41 is a rectilinear score line,as previously mentioned, which extends from point 35 on a linediametrically opposite a center line 55 which bisects the V-shaped scoreline 34, i.e., bisects the included angle between legs 36 and 37 ofscore line 34.

However, although score line 41 is arranged on such a diametricallyopposite line 55 it will be appreciated that score line 41 may bedisplaced at any desired angular position relative to line 55 to ineffect provide severing of a substantially large area portion of cap 22to release a substantial portion of its skirt 31 from against neck 24and thereby achieve an easy opening which was heretofore not possibleutilizing presently known constructions.

The closure cap 22 has a suitable sealing material designated generallyby the numeral 60 bonded to the inside surface of its top portion 30.The sealing material may be comprised of any suitable sealing materialwhich is capable of being bonded to the inside surface of the closurecap 22 and once the cap is pulled away by pulling pull ring 43 andsevering tear section 33 the sealing material 60 is also pulled away andremoved as an integral part of the severed or split cap 22.

The sealing material 60 illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings is shownin the form of a flow-in type of sealing material which is comprised ofa comparatively thick annular strip 61 and an integral substantiallythinner central section 62 adjoining the annular strip 61. The annularstrip 61 is adapted to be aligned above and sealed against a cooperatingannular surface 63 defining the top portion of bottle neck 24 to providean optimum seal for the contents within bottle 21. The annular strip 61is held firmly against the bottle neck 24 by the depending skirt 31 in aknown manner and as previously mentioned. The substantially thinnercentral portion 62 of seal 60 is such that it is readily severed uponinitially pulling the pull ring 43 outwardly to thereby immediatelyprovide a vent to relieve any pressure buildup within the bottle 21 andfor reasons as were previously described earlier in this specification.

Another exemplary embodiment of a closure cap of this invention isillustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The closure cap of FIG. 6 isquite similar to the closure cap 22 and may be used interchangeably withthe closure cap 22; therefore, the closure cap of FIG. 6 will bedesignated generally by the reference numeral 22A and parts thereofwhich are similar to corresponding parts of closure cap 22 which will bedesignated by the same numeral as closure cap 22 also followed by theletter designation A and not described again. Only those component partswhich are different from corresponding parts of closure cap 22 will bedesignated by a new numeral also followed by the letter designation Aand described in detail.

The main differences between closure cap 22A and closure cap 22 is inthe construction of the top portion 30A of closure cap 22A and the sealbonded against the inside surface of the top portion 30A. In particular,it will be seen in FIG. 6 that the V-shaped score line 34A has aninterruption at 65A along its leg portion 36A and similarly leg portion37A of score line 34A has an interruption at 66A. The interruptions 65Aand 66A provided in legs 36A and 37A respectively of V-shaped score line34A Provide a pair of corresponding strengthened areas, which will alsobe referred to as strengthened areas 65A and 66A, in the top portion 30Aof the closure cap 22A.

The provision of such strengthened areas 65A and 66A enable the V-shapedscore line 34A to be scored comparatively deep as compared to thethickness of the top portion 30A defining closure cap 22A. Thiscomparatively deep scoring enables easier severing of the tear strip 33Ayet the areas 65A and 66A assure that the overall structural intergrityof the closure cap particularly in its susceptible top portion 30A,which is more susceptible to rupture due to pressure buildup within anassociated container, is maintained substantially undiminished.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings wherein thesectional views presented highlight the comparative depth of scoringprovided in cap 22 and 22A respectively. For example, it will be seenthat in FIG. 7 the score line provided in the closure cap 22 has a depthindicated at 77 and such depth is substantially uniform for the V-shapedscore line 34 as well as the substantially rectilinear oppositelyarranged score line 41. The closure cap 22A illustrated in FIG. 8 has adepth of scoring indicated at 80A which is shown as being substantiallyuniform for its V-shaped score line 34A and rectilinear score line 41A.

As will be readily apparent by comparing FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings,the depth shown at 80A for closure cap 22A is substantially greater thanthe depth shown at 77 for closure cap 22. Although the severing of tearsection 33A in closure cap 22A is substantially the same as described inconnection with section 33 of cap 22, the increased depth of scoringenables easier severing of the tear strip 33A and hence easier openingof cap 22A as mentioned earlier.

The increased depth of scoring illustrated at 80A in connection withclosure cap 22A has been shown as being provided along the dependingskirt portion 31A of the closure cap 22A in addition to being providedin the top portion 30A of such closure cap. However, it will beappreciated that such increased depth of scoring may be provided only inthe top portion 30A if desired and may be utilized in connection withV-shaped score line 34A and/or rectilinear score line 41A.

To provide a more effective severing of the closure cap 22A from anassociated bottle the strengthened areas 65A and 66A are located at acorresponding radial position from point 35A. In particular, it will beseen from FIG. 6 of the drawings that the strengthened areas 65A and 66Aare arranged to be intersected by a common uniform radius arc.

Reference is now made to FIG. 9 of the drawings wherein the closure cap22A is shown in cross section with its sealing material bonded inposition against the inside surface of its top portion 30A. The sealingmaterial provided for closure cap 22A is in the form of an annular bead82A which is suitably bonded against the inside surface 30A and isadapted to be sealed against an associated annular surface such asannular surface 63 provided on bottle neck 24 of bottle 21.

With the provision of an annular bead type sealing surface such assurface 82A it will be appreciated that upon pulling upwardly on pullring 43A the central portion of the closure cap 22A does not have anysealing material therebeneath and thereby the initial severing of thatportion of the tear strip 33A adjoining point 35A provides an immediateventing without necessitating that any sealing material that mightotherwise be bonded thereunder be punctured. Thus, the initial ventingis more etficiently provided with the seal configuration illustrated inFIG. 9 of the drawings.

The closure members or closure caps 22 and 22A are thus provided in theform of a small crown type closure cap each having an associated pullring fastened thereto. The pull ring may be fastened in position by anintegral rivet provided in the closure cap 22 or 22A or may be fastenedin position in any suitable manner. In addition, it will be appreciatedthat, except for the pull ring in each instance, each closure cap 22 and22A is made from a single thickness of material, preferably of amaterial containing aluminum.

The use of aluminum enables provision of a closure cap which is rustproof, and which may be protected inexpensively as by anodizing, forexample, to assure that a product, such as a carbonated beverage,contained within a bottle on which the closure cap 22 and 22A may beused will not attack or detrimentally affect its associated closure cap.In addition, by utilizing metal containing aluminum the score lines andthe skirt in each of the closure caps is provided in an easier and moreefficient manner.

Any suitable sealing material such as cork, plastic materials, etc., maybe bonded or otherwise secured against the inside surface of the closurecaps 22 and 22A. When utilizing a cork sealing material it is preferablybonded as an integral part of the closure cap utilizing an albumin glue.When utilizing a plastic sealing material it is desirable that theplastic be capable of easy securing to its associated cap.

Any suitable plastic material may be utilized; however, one plasticmaterial that has proven successful is a microcellular vinyl compoundthat bonds to aluminum and which is sold under the trade name of Darexby the Dewey and Almy Chemical Division of W. R. Grace and Companylocated at Cambridge, Mass.

Thus, it is seen that closure caps 22 and 22A are each essentiallydefined and formed as one piece (unitary assembly). Also, the uniqueconstruction and arrangement of the V-shaped score line and cooperatingrectilinear score line in the top portion of each closure cap enables itto be initially vented immediately, to prevent the cap from blowing off,and simply and readily removed by a continuous outward pulling motionagainst an associated pull ring provided on each closure cap. Further,such opening is achieved in an easier manner than was possibleheretofore.

It was previously proposed in the above-referenced patent application toprovide a closure cap with a tear section similar to the tear sectionprovided in each of the closure caps 22 and 22A and such previouslyproposed construction is shown in FIGS. 10-14 of the drawings. A briefdescription will now be made to highlight the problem that still existsutilizing such previously proposed closure cap construction.Specifically it is still comparatively difficult to open a bottle thatutilizes the cap construction shown in FIG. 10.

In particular, FIG. 10 illustrates a bottle which is very similar to thebottle 21 shown in FIG. 1; therefore, the bottle of FIG. 10 will also bedesignated by the reference numreal 21 and its component parts will bedesignated by the same numerals as previously. Bottle 21 has a closurecap designated generally by the reference numeral 85 fastenedthereagainst essentially in a similar manner as described previously inconnection with closure cap 22. The description will now proceed with adescription of closure cap 85 which will be described only in suflicicntdetail to enable a ready understanding of the differences between suchclosure cap and the improved closure cap of this invention.

Closure cap 85 has a pull ring 86 which is substantially identical topull ring 43. The pull ring 86 is fixed to closure cap 85 by an integralrivet 90 provided in the closure cap 85 which is similar to rivet 45provided in closure cap 22; therefore, the detailed description of thepull ring 86 and rivet 90 will not be made in detail due to theirsimilarity to corresponding components of closure cap 22.

The closure cap 85 has a tear section 91 defined therein by a score line92 and tear section 91 has an inner end portion 93 arranged adjacent thecenter portion of the cap 85. The pull ring 86 is secured to the innerend portion 93 by the integral rivet 90.

The tear section 91 is defined by score line 92 in such a manner thatone edge 94 of the tear section 91 extends from the inner end 93 of tearsection 91 across the top portion 95 of closure cap 85 and down the rimportion or skirt 96 of cap 85 to the free end edge shown at 97. Theother edge of the tear section 91 designated by the numeral 100 isdefined by an opposite portion of score line 92 which extends from endportion 93 toward the top edge or rim of the skirt 96 and then loopsback or reversely turns to run substantially concentrically with theouter periphery of the top portion 95 to terminate at a point 101.

As illustrated in FIGS. -l3 of the drawings, the pull ring 86 isdisposed substantially concentrically on the top portion 95 of theclosure cap 85 and is firmly attached to the inner end 93 of tearsection 91 by the integral rivet 90 as previously mentioned. To open thebottle 21 the ultimate consumer lifts upon the pull ring 86 in themanner illustrated in FIG. 12 to cause fulcrum points or area 103 ofpull ring 86 to fulcrum against the top portion 95 of closure cap 86 andraise and separate the inner end 93 of the tear section 91 from the cap86.

With the pull ring 86 disposed in the raised position illustrated inFIG. 12, the ultimate consumer can now fully insert a finger into thefinger-receiving opening 105 of the pull ring 86 and pull outwardly andupwardly on the same in the same manner illustrated in FIG. 13 to causethe tear section 91 to begin to separate from the remainder of theclosure cap 85 along opposed edges 94 and 100 thereof. Further outwardmovement of the pull ring 86 causes the edge 94 of tear section 91 totear or separate completely from the closure cap 85 along the topportion 95 and skirt portion 96 thereof and then to begin to tear alongthe reversely turned part of the edge 100 until the particular pointshown at 101 is reached. This severing relieves the holding tension ofthe skirt 96 from around the bead 25 of bottle neck 24 and enables thecap 85 to be pulled away from bottle 21.

However, with this previously proposed closure cap 85 considerably moreforce is required to tear the tear section 91 first along that portionof the score line 92 defining edge 94 and then along the reverselyturned portion of score line 92 defining edge 100. By contrast aftersevering the tear strip 33 from the improved closure cap 22 of thisinvention cap 22 is, in effect, substantially instantaneously splitalong its rectilinear score line 41 to thereby enable easy and immediatelifting of cap 22 from its associated bottle 21 in a simpler and easiermanner than is possible with cap 85. Similarly, and as describedearlier, cap 22A would also be easier to open.

While present preferred embodiments of this invention, have beenillustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention maybe otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece closure member for a container having an open end fordispensing a product contained therein, said closure member comprising,a top portion adapted to be disposed over said open end, an integralskirt depending from the peripheral edge of said top portion and adaptedto be disposed around said container adjacent said open end to securesaid closure member to said container, a tear section in said closuremember extending across the major portion of said top portion anddefined by a score line having a bight and a pair of leg portions whichextend from said bight, one of said leg portions extending across saidtop portion and along the full height of said skirt and the other ofsaid leg portions extending to a location adjacent the uper edge of saidskirt, and a pull ring fastened to said tear section adjacent said bightand having a finger receiving opening to enable easy grasping andtearing, said closure member being adapted to be easily removed from anassociated container by pulling said pull ring outwardly to sever saidtear section and release a portion of said skirt with a portion of saidtear section adjoining the outer end of said other leg portion remainingattached to said closure member to enable said closure member to belifted away from said container in one piece.

2. A closure member as set forth in claim 1 in which said score linecomprises a V-shaped score line having said leg portions in the form ofdiverging leg portions which diverge in one direction from a point insaid top portion and further comprising a second score line in said topportion extending from said point in an opposite directon from said onedirection, said second score line having a depth which is a fractionalpart of the thickness of said top pontion, said second score lineenabling said closure member to be sheared therealong substantiallysimultaneously with shearing of said tear section to release a largeportion of said skirt and enable easier removal of said closure memberfrom said container in said one piece.

3. A closure member as set forth in claim 2 in which said point iscommon to the bight of said V-shaped score line and the inner edge ofsaid second score line to thereby comprise a scored area which is moreeasily severed.

4. A closure member as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a sealingmaterial secured on the inside surface of said top portion, said sealingmaterial being removed as an integral part of said closure member uponpulling said pull ring.

5. A closure member as set forth in claim 4 in which said sealingmaterial is in the form of an annular bead bonded against said insidesurface and adapted to be sealed against an associated annular surfaceof said container adjacent said open end.

6. A closure member as set forth in claim 1 made of metal containingaluminum and further comprising a sealing material made of plastic whichis bonded to said metal containing aluminum, said plastic sealingmaterial being removed as an integral part of said closure member uponpulling said pull ring.

7. A closure member as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a sealingmaterial secured on the inside surface of said top portion in acomparatively thick annular strip which is adapted to be sealed againstan associated surface of said bottle surrounding said open end and saidsealing material having a thinner central section adjoining said annularstrip which is adapted to be readily severed upon initially pulling saidpull ring to immediately provide a vent for said container to relieveany pressure buildup within said container.

8. A closure member as set forth in claim 2 in which said V-shaped scoreline is interrupted at a location along each of its leg portions todefine a pair of strengthened areas in said top portion which enablesaid V-shaped score line to be comparatively deep as compared with thethickness of said top portion, said strengthened areas assuring theoverall structural integrity of said closure member is maintained andsaid comparatively deep V-shaped score line enabling easy severing ofsaid tear section.

9. A closure member as set forth in claim 8 in which each of saidstrengthened areas is located at a corresponding radial position fromsaid point.

10. A closure member as set forth in claim 9 made of metal containingaluminum and further comprising a sealing material made of plastic whichis bonded to said metal containing aluminum, said plastic sealingmaterial being removed as an integral part of said closure member uponpulling said pull ring.

11. 'In combination: a bottle having a dispensing opening for dispensinga product contained therein and a onepiece closure cap secured over saidopening, said cap comprising, a top portion disposed over said opening,an integral skirt depending from the peripheral edge of said top portionand being radially inwardly compressed around said bottle adjacent saidopening to secure said cap to said bottle, a tear section in said capextending across the major portion of said top portion and defined by ascore line having a bight and a pair of leg portions which extend fromsaid bight, one of said leg portions extending across said top portionand along the full height of said skirt and the other of said legportions extending to a location adjacent the upper edge of said skirt,and a pull ring fastened to said tear section adjacent said bight andhaving a finger receiving opening to enable easy grasping and tearing,said cap being easily removed from said bottle by pulling said pull ringoutwardly to sever said tear section and release a portion of said skirtwith a portion of said tear strip adjoining the outer end of said otherleg portion remaining attached to said cap to enable said cap to belifted away from said bottle in one piece.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said score linecomprises a V-shaped score line having said leg portions in the form ofdiverging leg portions which diverge in one direction from a point insaid top portion and further comprising a second score line in said topportion extending from said point in an opposite direction from said onedirection, said second score line having a depth which is a fractionalpart of the thickness of said top portion, said second score lineenabling said cap to be sheared therealong substantially simultaneouslywith shearing of said tear section to re lease a large portion of saidskirt and enable easier removal of said cap from said bottle in said onepiece.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said point is commonto the bight of said V-shaped score line and the inner edge of saidsecond score line to thereby comprise a scored area which promotes saidsubstantially simultaneous shearing along said second score line.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said cap furthercomprises a sealing material secured on the inside surface of said topportion, said sealing material being removed as an integral part of saidcap upon pulling said pull ring.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said pull ring hasan edge which provides a fulcrum therefor against said top portionadjacent said second score line so that a small area of said tearsection is severed at a location adjacent said point to provide a ventfor any pressure buildup within said bottle immediately upon pullingsaid pull ring.

16. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said sealingmaterial in said cap is in the form of an annular bead bonded againstsaid inside surface and sealed against an associated annular surface ofsaid bottle adjacent said opening.

17. A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said cap is made ofmetal containing aluminum and further comprises a sealing material madeof plastic which is bonded to said metal containing aluminum, saidplastic sealing material being removed as an integral part of said capupon pulling said pull ring.

18. A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said cap furthercom-prises a sealing material secured on the inside surface of said topportion in a comparatively thick annular strip which is sealed againstan associated annular surface of said bottle which surrounds said open-.

ing, said sealing material having an integral comparatively thinnercentral section adjoining said annular strip which is readily severedupon initially pulling said pull ring to immediately provide a vent forsaid bottle to relieve any pressure buildup within said bottle.

19. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said V-shaped scoreline in said cap is interrupted at a location along each of its legportions to define a pair of strengthened areas in said top portionwhich enable said V-shaped score line to be comparatively deep ascompared with the thickness of said top portion, said strengthened areasassuring the overall structural integrity of said cap is maintained andsaid comparatively deep V-shaped score line enabling easier severing ofsaid tear section.

20. A combination as set forth in claim 19 in which each of saidstrengthened areas in said top portion of said cap is located at acorresponding radial position from said point.

21. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said second scoreline extends in said opposite direction and on a line substantiallydiametrically opposite a line bisecting said V-shaped score line.

22. In combination, a container having an open end for dispensingproduct means disposed in said container, and a one-piece closure membersecured to said open end of said container to close said open end, saidclosure member having a top portion disposed over said open end and adepending peripheral rim portion disposed around said container at saidopen end thereof to secure said closure member to said container, saidclosure member having a tear section integral therewith throughout theentire juncture of said tear section with the remainder of said closuremember and provided with two edges that join together at adjacent endsthereof to define one end of said tear section with one edge thereofextending from said top portion to the free edge of said rim portion andwith the other edge being spaced oppositely from said one edge along itsfull length and terminating short of said free edge of said rim portionso that said tear section remains integral with said closure member eventhough its opposed edges have been separated from said closure member,and a ring pull tab means secured to said tear section at said topportion of said closure member and having a finger-receiving openingpassing therethrough to facilitate the pulling of said one edge of saidtear section from said closure member.

23. A combination as set forth in claim 22 in which said tear sectionextends across the major portion of said top portion.

24. A one-piece closure member for a container having an open end fordispensing product means disposed in said container, said closure memberhaving a top portion adapted to be disposed over said open end and adepending peripheral rim portion adapted to be disposed around saidcontainer at said open end thereof to secure said closure member to saidcontainer, said closure member having a tear section integral therewiththroughout the entire juncture of said tear section with the remainderof said closure member and provided with two edges that join together atadjacent ends thereof to define one end of said tear section with oneedge thereof extending from said top portion to the free edge of saidrim portion and with the other edge being spaced oppositely from saidone edge along its full length and terminating short of said free edgeof said rim portion so that said tear section remains integral with saidclosure member even though its opposed edges have been separated fromsaid closure member, said toar section extending across the majorportion of said top portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Kondarow et a1 215-465 Brown eta1 22054 Arnaud 215-465 XR La Barge et a1 215-46 1 2 FOREIGN PATENTS658,870 10/ 1951 Great Britain.

US. Cl. X.R. 21539 Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference InInterference No. 97,684 involving Patent No. 3,522,899, F. A. Siemonsenand A. L. Garriques, EASY OPEN MEANS FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE, finaljudgment adverse to the pabentees was rendered June 4, 1974, as toclaims 22-24.

[Oficial Gazette November 12, 1.974.]

